Secure Wireless Lighting Commissioning via Cloud Key Mediation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The commissioning of lighting systems is cumbersome, resource-intensive, and costly due to the need for extensive configuration and secure communication setup between infrastructure devices, particularly in large-scale building installations, where key information exchange requires secure and authentic channels, often involving manual authentication and peer-to-peer communication.

Innovation Solution

A method using a commissioning device with communication means to obtain identification information from infrastructure elements, which is then used to retrieve key information from a remote server unit, allowing for secure and automated authentication and commissioning without requiring a fully integrated communication network, utilizing wireless communication for connectivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual authentication and peer-to-peer communication are used for commissioning, then secure communication channels can be established, but the commissioning process becomes cumbersome, time-consuming, and resource-intensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecure communicationVSAvoidcommissioning time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

A cloud-based service acts as an intermediary between the commissioning device and infrastructure devices. The service receives identification information, retrieves key information from its database, and provides it to the commissioning device, eliminating the need for manual key distribution and establishing secure channels automatically

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Key information is pre-stored in the cloud-based service database during manufacturing or system setup. This preliminary action allows the commissioning device to retrieve key information on-demand without manual intervention during the actual commissioning process, significantly reducing commissioning time while maintaining security

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Extent of automation

If dedicated commissioning devices with communication components are deployed, then automated commissioning is enabled, but device complexity and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommissioning automationVSAvoidcommissioning device complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cloud-based service provides universal commissioning capabilities that can be accessed by various commissioning devices (smartphones, tablets, computers) through standard communication interfaces. This eliminates the need for specialized commissioning hardware, reducing device complexity while maintaining automation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces physical commissioning devices with complex communication components by substituting them with software-based commissioning applications running on standard devices, communicating with the cloud service. This substitution reduces hardware complexity while preserving automated commissioning functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If key information is distributed during commissioning, then secure communication is established, but the risk of interception and manipulation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecure communicationVSAvoidkey information security risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cloud-based service serves as a secure intermediary that holds key information in its controlled environment. Instead of distributing key information between commissioning devices and infrastructure devices during commissioning (which creates interception risks), the service mediates the process by providing key information only when needed for authentication, reducing security risks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts key information from the commissioning process itself and stores it separately in the cloud-based service database. This separation means key information is not transmitted or distributed during commissioning, eliminating the interception and manipulation risks associated with key distribution while still enabling secure communication when needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS10939532B2Secure commissioning of wireless enabled lighting devices

Publication Date: 2021.03.02 TRIDONIC GMBH & CO KG

AI summary

The invention relates to the field of commissioning of infrastructure elements of a lighting network for connecting wireless enabled lighting devices in a secure manner to a wireless network using key information acquired via a cloud based service. A commissioning device comprises a first communication means for communicating with a server unit. The commissioning device obtains identification information from the infrastructure element to be commissioned and transmits the obtained identification information to a server unit which stores key information associated with identification information of the infrastructure element. The server unit retrieves the key information associated with the transmitted identification information and transmits the retrieved key information to the commissioning device. The commissioning device uses the received key information for establishing a secure communication channel to the infrastructure element.