REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM, SERVER DEVICE, TERMINAL DEVICE, ELECTRICAL APPARATUS REGISTRATION METHOD, AND PROGRAM

• US 20190312867A1
• Filed: 03/19/2018
• Published: 10/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: NAKAMURA, Koji
• Granted Patent: US 11,038,882 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/21 Programming remote control devices via third means
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0869 for achieving mutual authentication cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for mutual authentication H04L9/3273
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0884 by delegation of authentication, e.g. a proxy authenticates an entity to be authenticated on behalf of this entity vis-à-vis an authentication entity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/32 including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system or for message authentication, e.g. authorization, entity authentication, data integrity or data verification, non-repudiation, key authentication or verification of credentials
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A remote control system includes an electrical apparatus, a terminal device, and a server device. The terminal device receives a first encrypted apparatus ID in which an apparatus ID is encrypted from the electrical apparatus. The terminal device transmits the first encrypted apparatus ID to the electrical apparatus. The electrical apparatus transmits the apparatus ID and the first encrypted apparatus ID to the server device. The terminal device transmits the first encrypted apparatus ID to the server device. The server device determines whether there is a match in the first encrypted apparatus ID received from the electrical apparatus or the terminal device. When there is a match, the server device registers the apparatus ID in a first security state.

Claims

1. A remote control system comprising:

an electrical apparatus;

a terminal device that performs an operation of registering the electrical apparatus; and

a server device that accepts a request for the electrical apparatus from the terminal device, wherein

the terminal device includes;

a first communication unit that communicates with the electrical apparatus and the server device; and

a first controller that controls the terminal device,

the first controller transmits to the electrical apparatus via the first communication unit a search request for searching the electrical apparatus, receives from the electrical apparatus via the first communication unit a search request response including a first encrypted apparatus ID in which an apparatus ID for identifying the electrical apparatus is encrypted, transmits to the electrical apparatus via the first communication unit a notification request that includes the first encrypted apparatus ID and is intended to request for providing server transmission data to the server device, receives from the electrical apparatus via the first communication unit a completion response indicating that, in response to the notification request, transmission of the server transmission data including the apparatus ID and the first encrypted apparatus ID from the electrical apparatus to the server device has completed, and transmits to the server device via the first communication unit a registration status confirmation request that includes the first encrypted apparatus ID and is intended to request for confirmation of a registration status of the apparatus ID in the server device,

the electrical apparatus includes;

a second communication unit that communicates with the terminal device and the server device; and

a second controller that controls the electrical apparatus,

the second controller receives the search request from the terminal device via the second communication unit, transmits the search request response to the terminal device via the second communication unit, receives the notification request from the terminal device via the second communication unit, transmits the server transmission data to the server device via the second communication unit in response to the notification request, and transmits the completion response to the terminal device via the second communication unit,

the server device includes;

a third communication unit that communicates with the electrical apparatus and the terminal device;

a storage unit that registers the apparatus ID of the electrical apparatus for which the request from the terminal device is acceptable; and

a third controller that controls the server device, and

the third controller receives the server transmission data from the electrical apparatus via the third communication unit, receives the registration status confirmation request from the terminal device via the third communication unit, determines whether there is a match between the first encrypted apparatus ID received from the electrical apparatus and the first encrypted apparatus ID received from the terminal device, and when there is a match, registers the apparatus ID in a first security state in the storage unit.

2. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein

the first controller receives from the server device via the first communication unit a registration status conformation result including a second encrypted apparatus ID in which the apparatus ID is encrypted in the server device, transmits a registration request that includes the second encrypted apparatus ID and is intended to request for registration of the apparatus ID, and receives from the server device via the first communication unit a registration result of the apparatus ID in the server device in response to the registration request, and

the third controller stores the second encrypted apparatus ID in the storage unit, transmits the registration status confirmation result to the terminal device via the third communication unit, receives the registration request from the terminal device via the third communication unit, and when there is a match between the second encrypted apparatus ID included in the registration request and the second encrypted apparatus ID stored in the storage unit, registers the apparatus ID in a second security state higher in security level than the first security state in the storage unit, and transmits the registration result to the terminal device via the third communication unit.

3. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the second controller has a transition mode in which to determine whether registration of the electrical apparatus is to be accepted, and when the transition mode is a registration mode in which to accept registration of the electrical apparatus, accepts the notification request.

4. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the terminal device and the server device perform mutual authentication before the first encrypted apparatus ID is transmitted from the terminal device to the server device.

5. A server device that accepts a request for an electrical apparatus from a terminal device performing an operation of registering the electrical apparatus, the server device comprising:

a third communication unit that communicates with the electrical apparatus and the terminal device;

a storage unit that registers an apparatus ID for identifying the electrical apparatus for which a request from the terminal device is acceptable; and

a third controller that controls the server device,

wherein the third controller receives via the third communication unit server transmission data that includes the apparatus ID and a first encrypted apparatus ID in which the apparatus ID is encrypted and that is transmitted from the electrical apparatus in response to a notification request to the server device received from the terminal device, receives from the terminal device via the third communication unit a registration status confirmation request that includes the first encrypted apparatus ID and is intended to request for confirmation of a registration status of the apparatus ID in the server device, determines whether there is a match between the first encrypted apparatus ID received from the electrical apparatus and the first encrypted apparatus ID received from the terminal device, and when there is a match, registers the apparatus ID in a first security state in the storage unit.

6. The server device according to claim 5, wherein the third controller transmits to the terminal device via the third communication unit a registration status confirmation result including a second encrypted apparatus ID in which the apparatus ID is encrypted in the server device, stores the second encrypted apparatus ID in the storage unit, receives from the terminal device via the third communication unit a registration request that includes the second encrypted apparatus ID and is intended to request registration of the apparatus ID, and when there is a match between the second encrypted apparatus ID included in the registration request and the second encrypted apparatus ID registered in the storage unit, registers the apparatus ID in a second security state higher in security level than the first security state in the storage unit, and transmits to the terminal device via the third communication unit a registration result of the apparatus ID in the server device in response to the registration request.

7. The server device according to claim 5, wherein the third controller performs mutual authentication with the terminal device via the third communication unit before receipt of the first encrypted apparatus ID from the terminal device.

8. A terminal device that makes a request for an electrical apparatus via a server device, the terminal device comprising:

a first communication unit that communicates with the electrical apparatus and the server device; and

a first controller that controls the terminal device,

wherein the first controller transmits a search request for searching the electrical apparatus to the electrical apparatus via the first communication unit, receives via the first communication unit a search request response including a first encrypted apparatus ID in which an apparatus ID for identifying the electrical apparatus is encrypted from the electrical apparatus, transmits to the electrical apparatus via the first communication unit a notification request that includes the first encrypted apparatus ID and is intended to request for providing server transmission data to the server device, receives from the electrical apparatus a completion response indicating that, in response to the notification request, transmission of the server transmission data including the apparatus ID and the first encrypted apparatus ID from the electrical apparatus to the server device has completed, and transmits to the server device via the first communication unit a registration status confirmation request that includes the first encrypted apparatus ID received from the electrical apparatus for determining in the server device whether there is a match with the first encrypted apparatus ID transmitted from the electrical apparatus in response to the notification request and that is intended to request for confirmation of a registration status of the apparatus ID in the server device.

9. The terminal device according to claim 8, wherein the first controller receives from the server device via the first communication unit a registration status confirmation result including a second encrypted apparatus ID in which the apparatus ID is encrypted in the server device, transmits to the server device via the first communication unit a registration request that includes the second encrypted apparatus ID and is intended to request for registration of the apparatus ID, and receives from the server device via the first communication unit a registration result of the apparatus ID in the server device in response to the registration request.

10. The terminal device according to claim 8, wherein the first controller performs mutual authentication with the server device via the first communication unit before transmission of the first encrypted apparatus ID to the server device.

11. An electrical apparatus registration method in a remote control system including:

an electrical apparatus;

a terminal device that performs an operation of registering the electrical apparatus; and

a server device that accepts a request for the electrical apparatus from the terminal device, wherein

the terminal device transmits an apparatus search request for searching the electrical apparatus to the electrical apparatus,

the electrical apparatus transmits to the terminal device a search request response that includes a first encrypted apparatus ID in which an apparatus ID for identifying the electrical apparatus is encrypted,

the terminal device transmits to the electrical apparatus a notification request that includes the first encrypted apparatus ID and is intended to request for providing server transmission data to the server device,

the electrical apparatus transmits to the server device the server transmission data including the apparatus ID and the first encrypted apparatus ID in response to the notification request,

the electrical apparatus transmits to the terminal device a notification request completion response indicating transmission of the server transmission data to the server device has completed,

the terminal device transmits to the server device a registration status confirmation request that includes the first encrypted apparatus ID and is intended to request for confirmation of a registration status of the apparatus ID in the server device, and

the server device determines whether there is a match between the first encrypted apparatus ID received from the electrical apparatus and the first encrypted apparatus ID received from the terminal device, and when there is a match, registers the apparatus ID in a first security state in the server device.

12. The electrical apparatus registration method according to claim 11, wherein

the server device transmits to the terminal device a registration status confirmation result that includes a second encrypted apparatus ID in which the apparatus ID is encrypted,

the server device stores the second encrypted apparatus ID in the server device,

the terminal device transmits to the server device a registration request that includes the second encrypted apparatus ID and is intended to request for registration of the apparatus ID,

the server device receives the registration request from the terminal device,

when there is a match between the second encrypted apparatus ID included in the registration request and the second encrypted apparatus ID stored in the server device, the server device registers the apparatus ID in a second security state higher in security level than the first security state in the server device, and

the server device transmits a registration result of the apparatus ID to the terminal device.

13. The electrical apparatus registration method according to claim 12, wherein, when a registration request including the second encrypted apparatus ID has not been received from the terminal device within a predetermined time after receipt of the server transmission data, the server device transmits to the terminal device a failure response indicating that the apparatus ID is not registered.

14. The electrical apparatus registration method according to claim 11, wherein the terminal device and the server device perform mutual authentication before transmission of the first encrypted apparatus ID and the second encrypted apparatus ID from the terminal device to the server device.

15. The electrical apparatus registration method according to claim 11, wherein

the electrical apparatus has a transition mode in which to determine whether registration of the electrical apparatus is to be accepted, and

when the transition mode is a registration mode in which to accept registration, the electrical apparatus accepts the notification request from the terminal device.

16. A program for causing a computer that is mounted in a server device accepting a request for an electrical apparatus from a terminal device performing an operation of registering the electrical apparatus, to execute a process of:

receiving server transmission data that includes the apparatus ID and a first encrypted apparatus ID in which the apparatus ID is encrypted and is transmitted from the electrical apparatus in response to a notification request to the server device from the terminal device;

receiving from the terminal device a registration status confirmation request that includes the first encrypted apparatus ID and is intended to request for confirmation of a registration status of the electrical apparatus in the server device;

determining whether there is a match between the first encrypted apparatus ID received from the electrical apparatus and the first encrypted apparatus ID received from the terminal device; and

when there is a match, registering the apparatus ID in a first security state in the server device.

17. An electrical apparatus registration method in a remote control system including:

an electrical apparatus;

a terminal device that performs an operation of registering the electrical apparatus; and

a server device that accepts a request for the electrical apparatus from the terminal device, wherein

the electrical apparatus transmits to the server device an apparatus ID for identifying the electrical apparatus and a first encrypted apparatus ID in which the apparatus ID is encrypted in response to a request from the terminal device,

the terminal device transmits the first encrypted apparatus ID to the server device, and

the sever device determines whether there is a match between the first encrypted apparatus ID received from the electrical apparatus and the first encrypted apparatus ID received from the terminal device, and when there is a match, registers the apparatus ID in a first security state in the server device.