Wireless Microcontroller Pairing for Secure Remote Firmware Updates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Microcontrollers in many embedded systems lack the capability for secure and efficient wireless programming updates and data transmission due to the absence of network connections and computational resources for secure data handling.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a first microcontroller, a second microcontroller with a wireless communication module, and a secure element with cryptographic keys, enabling secure data validation and transmission through session key generation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a microcontroller is connected to a network for receiving programming updates, then programming updates can be received remotely, but the connection must be secure which requires complex and computationally intensive validation processes that many microcontrollers cannot handle

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveremote programming update capabilityVSAvoidsecure connection validation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the microcontroller functionality into two separate microcontrollers: one dedicated to control functions and another dedicated to wireless communication and security management. This segmentation allows the communication microcontroller to handle complex cryptographic operations without overburdening the system microcontroller, resolving the contradiction between remote update capability and validation complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A secure element is introduced as an intermediary component that stores cryptographic keys and generates session keys. This intermediary handles the computationally intensive security operations, allowing the microcontroller system to receive remote programming updates with proper security validation without requiring the main microcontroller to perform complex cryptographic computations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If secure data validation is implemented using cryptographic keys, then data integrity and security are ensured, but the computational resources required for key management and validation are significant

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata security and integrityVSAvoidcomputational resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The security-critical functions including cryptographic key storage and session key generation are extracted from the main microcontroller and placed in a dedicated secure element. This extraction reduces the computational burden on the microcontroller while maintaining strong security, as the secure element is specifically designed for cryptographic operations with optimized resource usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Session keys are generated in advance by the secure element before data transmission occurs. This preliminary action allows the microcontroller to validate incoming programming updates using pre-generated session keys rather than performing complex cryptographic operations in real-time, reducing computational resource consumption during the actual programming operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If direct connection methods are used for programming updates, then security validation is simpler, but the ease of operation for remote updates is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalidation process simplicityVSAvoidremote update capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The wireless communication microcontroller acts as an intermediary that bridges the gap between remote wireless communication and secure validation. It receives programming updates wirelessly, validates them using session keys from the secure element, and then transfers the validated updates to the system microcontroller. This intermediary approach enables remote updates while maintaining security validation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces direct physical connection methods (mechanical interface) with wireless communication (electromagnetic field-based communication). The wireless communication module enables remote programming updates without requiring physical connection, while the security validation is maintained through cryptographic methods implemented by the communication microcontroller and secure element.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS12621663B2Microcontroller having wireless communication module for use with a system

Publication Date: 2026.05.05 DENTSPLY SIRONA INC

AI summary

Systems, apparatuses, and methods that provide for a wireless communication microcontroller for use with a system microcontroller. A first microcontroller is configured to control aspects of a system in which the device can be embedded. A second microcontroller is operatively connected to the first microcontroller, with the second microcontroller including a wireless communication module for wireless communication. A secure element is operatively connected to the second microcontroller, with a cryptographic key being stored in the secure element. The second microcontroller is configured to receive instructions for programming the first microcontroller through the wireless communication module and request a session key from the secure element. The secure element is configured to generate the session key using the cryptographic key. The second microcontroller is further configured validate the instructions using the session key and send the validated instructions to the first microcontroller.