Apparatus and Method for Operating Same

• US 20160071340A1
• Filed: 09/08/2015
• Published: 03/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Kauth, Christoph
• Granted Patent: US 9,898,877 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/20 involving the use of a pass
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for using an apparatus are provided, which apparatus can be used in particular in an industrial automation process. The apparatus comprises a machine part for performing a process to be performed by an automation system or for processing a workpiece, and an authentication and access part for authenticating a user of the apparatus and for permitting the user access to at least some of the functions of the machine part if the user has been authenticated, and for blocking the user access to the functions of the machine part if the user has not been authenticated.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an machine part; and

an authentication and access part configured to;

authenticate a user of the apparatus;

permit the user to access at least some functions of the machine part if the user has been authenticated; and

block the user from accessing to the functions of the machine part if the user has not been authenticated.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a reader configured to read data from an access authorization device of the user and to transmit the data to the authentication and access part, the authentication and access part being configured to authenticate the user of the apparatus using the data.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, the authentication and access part being further configured to:

access a database that is at least one of external to the apparatus and internal to the apparatus to ascertain an access authorization of the user to the functions of the machine part.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, the reader being further configured to:

use near field communication to communicate with at least one of an active transponder and a passive transponder of the access authorization device.

5. The apparatus according to claim 2, the reader being further configured to:

use far field communication to communicate with at least one of an active transponder and a passive transponder of the access authorization device.

6. The apparatus according to claim 2, the reader being further configured to:

detect a communications channel provided by the access authorization device; and

establish a communications link with the access authorization device via the communications channel.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, the authentication and access part being further configured to:

check an authorization level of the user if the user has been authenticated, the authorization level indicating which of the functions of the machine part the user has access to.

8. The apparatus according to claim 2, the authentication and access part being further configured to:

repeatedly check, after permiting the user to access the at least some functions of the machine part, at least one of (i) an authentication of the user and (ii) a presence of the user in an area surrounding the reader.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, the authentication and access part being further configured to:

block the user from accessing to the functions of the machine part if the repeated check reveals at least one of (i) that the user cannot be authenticated, (ii) that a different user has been authenticated, and (iii) that the user has left the area surrounding the reader.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is at least one of (i) a personal computer, (ii) a mobile phone, (iii) a screw-fastening tool having measuring function, (iv) a riveting device having measuring function, (v) a welding controller, (vi) a punching apparatus, (vii) a supply module at least one of including and excluding a control module for at least one of supplying and controlling a synchronous motor, (viii) a controller, (ix) a hydraulic component having integral electronics, and (x) a pneumatic component having integral electronics.

15. The apparatus according to claim 2, the authentication and access part being further configured to:

periodically check, after permiting the user to access the at least some functions of the machine part, at least one of (i) an authentication of the user and (ii) a presence of the user in an area surrounding the reader.

11. A method for using or operating an apparatus comprising:

checking whether a user of the apparatus is located in an area surrounding a reader of the apparatus, the reader being configured to read data from a user access authorization device;

authenticating the user of the apparatus; and

permitting the user to access at least some functions of a machine part of the apparatus if the user has been authenticated as one of a group of authorized users.

12. The method according to claim 11, the checking whether the user of the apparatus is located in the area surrounding the reader further comprising:

using at least one of (i) a communications channel provided by the access authorization device and (ii) a channel identifier of a communications channel provided by the access authorization device.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

repeatedly checking, after permiting the user to access the at least some functions of the machine part, whether there user is still located in the area surrounding the reader.

14. The method according to any of claims 11, comprising

blocking the user from accessing to the functions of the machine part if at least one of (i) the user has not been authenticated, (ii) the user has left the area surrounding the reader, and (iii) a different user has been authenticated.

16. The method according to claim 12, the checking whether the user of the apparatus is located in the area surrounding the reader further comprising:

using an SSID of the communications channel provided by the access authorization device.

17. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

periodically checking, after permiting the user to access the at least some functions of the machine part, whether there user is still located in the area surrounding the reader.