Security Device Remote Diagnosis via Acoustic Data Encoding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Accessing and troubleshooting security devices on secure networks from remote locations is costly and time-consuming due to the need for physical presence, as remote access compromises network security.
Innovation Solution
Establishing a wireless data link between a security device and a remote diagnostic workstation using a cellular voice connection, encoding data onto and decoding it from the voice connection, enabling secure data transfer and configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If technicians are dispatched to customer premises for installing, troubleshooting, configuring, and checking security devices, then the security devices can be accessed and maintained, but it becomes costly and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a cellular voice connection as an intermediary medium to transmit data between the security device and remote technicians. By encoding data onto audio signals through a speaker-microphone interface, the system enables remote access without requiring physical presence, thus eliminating technician dispatch time while maintaining security device accessibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical system of technician travel and on-site access with an acoustic communication system. Data is transmitted through sound waves via cellular voice networks, substituting the need for physical movement and on-site mechanical access with remote acoustic data transmission
2Ease of operation
If remote access is enabled to security devices, then technicians can access devices remotely, but it compromises the security of the secure networks
Solution Approach 1:
The cellular voice connection serves as an external intermediary that bypasses the need to create direct network access paths. By using the cellular network as a mediation layer with acoustic encoding, the system enables remote access functionality without establishing vulnerable network connections that would compromise secure network isolation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the data transmission function from the network communication layer and places it in the acoustic communication layer. By taking out the essential data exchange capability and implementing it through a different medium (cellular voice), the system maintains remote accessibility while preserving the security isolation of the secure network
3Ease of operation
If field service technicians are used for device maintenance, then on-premises access is ensured, but manufacturers and third party administrators cannot efficiently utilize their technical resources
Solution Approach 1:
The acoustic communication system acts as an intermediary that bridges the gap between on-premises security devices and remote technical experts. This enables manufacturers and third party administrators to access and diagnose devices remotely, fully utilizing their technical resources without being geographically constrained, thereby significantly improving productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables a single remote technical resource to service multiple security devices across different locations simultaneously. By universalizing access through the acoustic communication interface, expert technicians can efficiently handle multiple installations without requiring physical presence at each site, maximizing the utilization of technical human resources
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Facilitates efficient remote diagnosis and configuration of security devices, reducing costs and time by allowing secure data exchange over existing cellular voice networks, leveraging cellular voice connections for secure and efficient communication.
Implementation Method 1
An app will typically execute on the technician mobile computing device and/or the peer mobile device that encodes the data onto and/or decodes the data from the voice connection using frequency shift key modulation of an audible frequency carrier wave.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for diagnosing and/or configuring a security device included within a secure network is disclosed. A technician mobile computing device maintains a data connection between the security device and a remote computer diagnostic workstation, where the computer workstation might send configuration commands to the security device and receives diagnostic data from the security device over the data connection. The technician mobile phone maintains the data connection by establishing a wireless data link to the security device and by encoding data onto and/or decoding data from a voice connection to a peer mobile computing device. A WiFi connection between the peer mobile computing device and the computer workstation then completes the data connection between the security device and the computer diagnostic workstation.