Validity Confirmation Equipment for Secure Kitting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies lack effective measures to confirm the validity of software installed during kitting work, particularly when performed by outside workers, which can lead to malware introduction and compromised cybersecurity, especially in edge servers used in manufacturing environments.
Innovation Solution
The validity confirmation equipment, which includes a storage unit with pre-set validity confirmation data and a program, connects to the computer to start the validity confirmation process without booting the OS, comparing hash values of installed software against a valid list to determine if the kitting is valid, and registers the computer with a management system if valid, preventing malware-infected systems from accessing business applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If kitting work is performed by outside workers to enable computer introduction, then productivity is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to potential malware introduction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by embedding validity confirmation data and verification programs into the kitting equipment before the kitting work begins. The system automatically executes validity confirmation during the kitting process itself, rather than requiring separate post-kitting verification steps. This ensures that software validity is checked in advance before the computer is delivered to the user, maintaining both productivity and reliability.
2Reliability
If validity confirmation is performed after kitting work, then reliability is improved, but loss of time increases due to additional verification steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the validity confirmation function with the kitting equipment itself. The verification program and validity confirmation data are integrated into the kitting system, allowing validity checks to be performed as part of the normal kitting workflow. This eliminates separate verification steps and reduces the time loss associated with post-kitting validation.
Solution Approach 2:
The kitting equipment performs self-verification by automatically executing the validity confirmation program and comparing installed software against the stored validity data. The system does not require external manual verification, thereby streamlining the process and minimizing time loss while maintaining reliable validity confirmation.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If anti-malware software is installed during kitting, then cybersecurity is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional security layers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the kitting equipment with validity confirmation data and verification programs before the kitting work begins. The system automatically executes validity confirmation during the kitting process itself, rather than requiring separate post-kitting verification steps. This ensures that software validity is checked in advance before the computer is delivered to the user, maintaining both productivity and reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
To confirm whether a computer in a kitted state kitted by kitting equipment is valid. Validity confirmation equipment (30) confirms whether a computer (10) in a kitted state kitted by kitting equipment (20) is valid. The validity confirmation equipment (30) includes a storage unit (32) that stores validity confirmation data set in advance in association with the kitting equipment (20), and a validity confirmation program used for confirming the validity of kitting work on the basis of the validity confirmation data. The validity confirmation equipment (30) starts the computer (10) using the validity confirmation program when the validity confirmation equipment (30) is connected to the computer (10) and then the computer is powered on, thereby causing the computer (10) to judge whether the kitted state is valid on the basis of the validity confirmation data.