Spare Robot Controller Key Management for Secure Backup Restore
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for replacing a defective robot controller in industrial systems compromise data protection by requiring service personnel to access unprotected backup data, especially when external service personnel are involved, and do not efficiently manage key distribution and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that supply a shared key to a spare robot controller to load and decrypt an encrypted backup copy, allowing secure storage and enabling key management, including pre-programming and individualization phases, to maintain data protection and facilitate replacement across multiple robot controllers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If service personnel are granted access to backup storage to restore system configuration, then the spare robot controller can be configured to replace the defective one, but data protection of the system configuration is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The spare robot controller is pre-programmed with the necessary system configuration data and encryption keys before the defective controller fails. This preliminary preparation allows immediate replacement without needing to access backup storage or expose sensitive data to service personnel, thus maintaining data protection while enabling easy repair.
Solution Approach 2:
An encryption mechanism acts as an intermediary between the backup storage and the spare robot controller. The backup data remains encrypted in secure storage, and only the authorized spare controller with the correct decryption key can access and restore the configuration, preventing unauthorized access while enabling legitimate repairs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple shared keys are supplied to the spare robot controller for different robot controllers, then the spare controller can replace any robot controller in the system, but the complexity of key management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spare robot controller is designed with universal compatibility to replace any robot controller in the system. It contains multiple shared keys and can decrypt backup data from any controller type, making it a multi-functional replacement solution that eliminates the need for dedicated spares for each controller model.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses different encryption keys as parameters for different robot controllers. The spare controller is pre-configured with multiple keys corresponding to different controllers in the system, allowing it to adapt to various encryption schemes without requiring complex runtime key exchange or authentication protocols.
Data Source
AI summary
A spare robot controller for replacing any one of a plurality of initial robot controllers configured to control operation of respective industrial robots includes a key storage storing a plurality of shared keys and a secure storage. The spare robot controller is configured to decrypt, using one of the shared keys, an encrypted backup copy of the initial robot controller to be replaced, and to store resulting data in the secure storage. In embodiments, the is configured to extract data from the secure storage during operation and to encrypt the extracted data, using a selected one of the shared keys, for storage as a backup copy in a backup storage available to all of the initial robot controllers.