Method for remote maintenance of technical devices

• US 8,312,118 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2004
• Issued: 11/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Weseloh, Dirk
• Primary Examiner(s): WON, MICHAEL YOUNG
• Application Number:
  US10/807,691
• Publication Number:
  US 20040255004A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,156 Days
• Field of Search: 709/201, 709/219, 709/221, 709/224, 709/225, 709/229, 709/203, 709/217, 709/220, 709/223
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database

Abstract

A method for remote maintenance of a technical device by a maintenance technician by a maintenance computer as well as a computer-readable storage medium on which is stored information for execution of the method on a data processing device. In the method, a remote data connection is established between the maintenance computer and the technical device, electronic access information dependent on a scope of intended access to data stored in the technical device is transmitted from the maintenance computer to the technical device an electronic identifier identifying the maintenance technician is transmitted from the maintenance computer to the technical device, an approval by an operating personnel of an access is determined by the technical device dependent on access information and the identifier, and by the technical device, electronic authentication information is generated by the technical device dependent on the determination of the approval.

Claims

1. A method for remote maintenance of a technical device by a maintenance technician by a maintenance computer, comprising the steps of:

establishing a remote data connection between the maintenance computer and the technical device to be maintained;

transmitting electronic access information describing a scope of intended access to data stored in the technical device from the maintenance computer to the technical device to be maintained, said data being understood to be confidential by an operating personnel for the technical device;

transmitting an electronic identifier identifying the maintenance technician from the maintenance computer to the technical device to be maintained;

determining an approval by said operating personnel of an access to the technical device dependent on the access information describing the scope of the intended access to the data and the identifier;

generating electronic authentication information by the technical device dependent on the determination of the approval;

transmitting said authentication information from the technical device to the maintenance computer;

with said maintenance computer, conducting said remote maintenance of said technical device, said maintenance computer receiving from said technical device confidential data which was authorized based on said approval; and

automatically deleting electronic data from the maintenance computer that has been transmitted from the technical device to the maintenance computer and stored in the maintenance computer dependent on termination of the access.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

printing information by the technical device dependent on the authentication information.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

transmitting electronic termination information dependent on a termination of the access from the maintenance computer to the technical device.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

transmitting electronic documentation of accesses effected by the maintenance computer from the maintenance computer to the technical device.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

automatically determining an extent of an intended data access during the remote maintenance.

6. A method for remote maintenance of a technical device by a maintenance technician by a maintenance computer, comprising the steps of:

establishing a remote data connection between the maintenance computer and the technical device to be maintained;

transmitting electronic access information describing a scope of intended access to data stored in the technical device from the maintenance computer to the technical device to be maintained, said data being understood to be access sensitive by an operating personnel for the technical device;

transmitting an electronic identifier identifying the maintenance technician from the maintenance computer to the technical device to be maintained;

determining an approval by said operating personnel of an access to the technical device dependent on the access information describing the scope of the intended access to the data and the identifier;

generating electronic authentication information dependent on the determination of the approval;

transmitting said authentication information to the maintenance computer; and

with said maintenance computer, conducting said remote maintenance of said technical device, said maintenance computer receiving from said technical device data considered to be access sensitive which was authorized based on said approval; and

automatically deleting electronic data in the maintenance computer that has been transmitted from the technical device to the maintenance computer and stored in the maintenance computer dependent on termination of the access.

7. A computer-readable medium comprising a computer program for remote maintenance of a technical device by a maintenance technician by a maintenance computer having said computer program, said program performing the steps of:

establishing a remote data connection between the maintenance computer and the technical device to be maintained;

transmitting electronic access information describing a scope of intended access to data stored in the technical device from the maintenance computer to the technical device to be maintained, said data being understood to be confidential by an operating personnel for the technical device;

transmitting an electronic identifier identifying the maintenance technician from the maintenance computer to the technical device to be maintained;

receiving approval by said operating personnel of an access to the technical device dependent on the access information describing the scope of the intended access to the data and the identifier;

receiving electronic authentication information generated by the technical device dependent on the determination of the approval;

receiving said authentication information from the technical device; and

conducting said remote maintenance of said technical device, said maintenance computer receiving from said technical device confidential data which was authorized based on said approval; and

automatically deleting electronic data in the maintenance computer that has been transmitted from the technical device to the maintenance computer and stored in the maintenance computer dependent on termination of the access.