Product for controlling behavior of control signals from a certified application

• US 8,032,239 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2007
• Issued: 10/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schneider Electric Buildings AB (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Schneider Electric Buildings AB (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Brissman, Jan, Hallgren, Lars-Göran, Scheja, Christer
• Primary Examiner(s): Masinick; Michael D
• Application Number:
  US11/887,731
• Publication Number:
  US 20090030533A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,629 Days
• Field of Search: 700/81, 700/292, 713/167, 713/193
• US Class Current: 700/79
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/51 at application loading time, e.g. accepting, rejecting, starting or inhibiting executable software based on integrity or source reliability
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/00 Electric signal transmission systems G08C17/00 takes precedence

Abstract

A product for controlling physical properties including data processing means with inputs and outputs is provided. The product has approved bounds of behavior. At least one of the outputs includes a control signal disposed to be output by the product. The product is arranged to control an entity for implementing building functionality. The data processing means includes a processing control means, and a software including at least one application, and having a certificate uniquely associated with the application such that authenticity relating to building regulation, standard or directive of the application can be checked. The processing control means includes means for confirming the application by verifying the certificate associated with the application, and means for checking functions of the application and functions of the product as a whole, such that the control signal does not violate the approved bounds of behavior of the product when the application is executed.

Claims

1. A product for controlling physical properties of an entity for implementing building functionality, the product comprising data processing means with inputs and outputs, wherein said product has approved bounds of behaviour, wherein at least one of said outputs comprises at least one control signal disposed to be output by said product, and wherein said data processing means comprises

a processing control;

and

a software comprising at least one application, and having a certificate uniquely associated with said at least one application for certifying that the at least one application complies with at least one of building regulation, standard or directive of said at least one application,

wherein the processing control confirms said at least one application by verifying said certificate associated with said at least one application, and

wherein the processing control checks functions of said at least one application and functions of the product as a whole, such that said at least one control signal does not violate the approved bounds of behaviour of the product when said at least one application is executed.

2. The product according to claim 1, wherein said processing control means comprises hardware interfacing software and said means for confirming and checking are implemented in said hardware interfacing software.

3. The product according to claim 1, wherein said processing control means comprises hardware, wherein said means for confirming and checking are implemented in the hardware of said processing control means.

4. The product according to claim 1, wherein said means for verifying said certificate comprises a check sum calculator.

5. The product according to claim 1, wherein said means for verifying said certificate comprises hash algorithm means.

6. The product according to claim 1, wherein said processing control means comprises data base means having information on certified applications, properties of said product, and said approved bounds of behaviour.

7. The product according to claim 1, wherein said processing control means comprises communication means having access to at least one of information on certified applications, properties of said product, and said approved bounds of behaviour.

8. The product according to claim 1, wherein said processing control means comprises

communication means having access to at least one of information on certified applications, properties of said product, and said approved bounds of behaviour, and

data base means having at least one of information on certified applications, properties of said product, and said approved bounds of behaviour,

such that information on certified applications, properties of said product, and said approved bounds of behaviour are available.

9. The product according to claim 1, wherein said certificate comprises at least one of information on certified applications, properties of said product, and said approved bounds of behaviour.

10. The product according to claim 1, wherein said certificate comprises a unique identifier, time of creation, purpose of application, author, information on critical inputs, information on critical outputs, or a mark identification, or any combination thereof.

11. The product according to claim 1, comprising an output having an output signal indicating results of the checking and verification operations of said processing control means.

12. The product according to claim 1, further comprising

a second software comprising at least one further application, and having a second certificate uniquely associated with said at least one further application,

wherein said means for confirming is disposed for verifying said second certificate associated with said at least one further application of said second software, and

wherein said means for checking is disposed for checking functions of the application of the second software in co-operation with said at least one further application of the software and the product such that said at least one control signal does not violate the approved bounds of behaviour of the product.

13. A device comprising a product according to claim 1, disposed for controlling building related functionality.

14. The device according to claim 13, comprising a further application.

15. A system comprising a plurality of devices according to claim 13, further comprising means for defining said approved bounds of behaviour and at least one building related functionality device whose physical properties is to be controlled by at least one of said devices.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein said at least one building related functionality device is a valve, an electric motor, a radiator, an elevator, an escalator, an actuator, a contactor, a curtain, a shutter, a blind, a louver, a dimmer, a door or gate lock, a power outlet, a camera, or a turnstile, or any combination thereof.

17. The system according to claim 15, wherein said means for defining said approved bounds of behaviour is disposed to define said bounds according to regulations of European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein said means for defining said approved bounds of behaviour is arranged to provide an EUBAC mark to said certificate.

19. A system comprising a plurality of devices according to claim 14, further comprising means for defining said approved bounds of behaviour and at least one building related functionality device whose physical properties is to be controlled by at least one of said devices.

20. The system according to claim 16, wherein said means for defining said approved bounds of behaviour is disposed to define said bounds according to regulations of European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.