Method and device for detecting the opening of a cover enclosing the device

• US 8,443,458 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2008
• Issued: 05/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Lindqvist, Dan Anders
• Primary Examiner(s): VOSTAL, ONDREJ C
• Application Number:
  US12/812,177
• Publication Number:
  US 20100287624A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,945 Days
• Field of Search: 726/34
• US Class Current: 726/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/86 Secure or tamper-resistant housings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2143 Clearing memory, e.g. to prevent the data from being stolen

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism for tamper detection of electronic devices (110) in closed units which is robust and low cost. The object is achieved by a method in an electronic device (110) for detecting if a cover (100) enclosing the electronic device (110) has been opened. The cover (100) comprises an enclosing assembly (250) which is adapted to fasten the cover (100) into a closed position. The electronic (device 110) comprises a non volatile memory (120). The non volatile memory (120) comprises a stored reference signature associated to the enclosing assembly (250) when the cover (100) was fastened into a closed position. The method comprises the following steps: (Creating 1003) a signature associated to the enclosing assembly (250). Comparing (1004) the created signature with the reference signature. Detecting (1007) that the cover 100 has been opened when the comparing (1004) results in a difference.

Claims

1. A method in an electronic device for detecting if a cover enclosing the electronic device has been opened from a closed position, the cover comprising an enclosing assembly, the enclosing assembly comprising a first fastening element and a second fastening element, the first fastening element and second fastening element of the enclosing assembly being adapted to fasten the cover into a closed position, the electronic device comprising a non-volatile memory, which memory comprises a stored reference signature associated to the enclosing assembly when the cover was fastened into a closed position, the method comprising the steps of:

creating a unique signature associated to the enclosing assembly each of multiple consecutive times the electronic device is powered-on and each of multiple consecutive times the electronic device is opened from the closed position based on any one of;

a unique signature of the pressure of the first fastening element and a unique signature of the mutual position of the second fastening element, wherein the unique signature is created each time the electronic device is powered on and a subsequent comparison between the created signature and a reference signature may be performed to detect if the cover enclosing the electronic device has been opened since the creating of the reference signature,

comparing the created signature with the reference signature, and

detecting that the cover has been opened and an unauthorized access when the comparing the created unique signature to the reference signature results in a difference.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second fastening element is represented by a hole pattern element comprising through holes arranged in a pattern, the hole pattern element being adapted to create an optical pattern when being illuminated, and wherein the step of creating a unique signature of the mutual position of the second fastening element is performed by illuminating the hole pattern element, and by registering the created optical pattern.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second fastening element is represented by a pattern element comprising a pattern of transparently coloured and/or polarized sections, the pattern element being adapted to create an optical pattern when being illuminated, and wherein the step of creating a unique signature of the mutual position of the second fastening element is performed by illuminating the pattern element, and by registering the created optical pattern.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second fastening element is represented by a edge pattern element comprising a pattern arranged on the edge of the edge pattern element being adapted to create an optical pattern when being illuminated, and wherein the step of creating a unique signature of the mutual position of the second fastening element is performed by illuminating the edge pattern element, and by registering the created optical pattern.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of creating the unique signature uses relative values.

6. The method according to claim 1, comprising the further steps to be taken after the step of comparing the created signature with the reference signature:

setting a “

signature mismatch flag”

when a difference occurs, and

storing the “

signature mismatch flag”

when a difference occurs.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the step of detecting that the cover has been opened is performed by checking if the signature mismatch flag is set.

8. The method according to claim 7, comprising the further step of obstructing parts or the entire electronic device when the signature mismatch flag is set.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the step obstructing parts or the entire electronic device when the signature mismatch flag is set is performed after a predetermined time interval.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of creating a unique signature and any of the steps comparing the created signature with the reference signature, setting an “

signature mismatch flag”

when a difference occurs, storing the “

signature mismatch flag”

when a difference occurs, detecting that the cover has been opened when the comparing results in a difference, and obstructing parts or the entire electronic device when the signature mismatch flag is set is performed each time the electronic device is powered on.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device further comprises a subordinate OAM-system component which is adapted to communicate with a central controlling OAM-system component, and wherein the step of creating a unique signature and any of the steps comparing the created signature with the reference signature, setting an “

signature mismatch flag”

when a difference occurs, storing the “

signature mismatch flag”

when a difference occurs, detecting that the cover has been opened when the comparing results in a difference, and obstructing parts or the entire electronic device when the signature mismatch flag is set, is initiated via the central controlling OAM-system component.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of creating a unique signature and any of the steps and any of the steps comparing the created signature with the reference signature, setting a “

signature mismatch flag”

when a difference occurs, storing the “

signature mismatch flag”

when a difference occurs, detecting that the cover has been opened when the comparing results in a difference, and obstructing parts or the entire electronic device when the signature mismatch flag is set, is initiated manually via the service interface.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the stored reference signature associated to the second fastening element is created by the further method steps to be taken before the method step of creating a unique signature:

creating the reference signature associated to the second fastening element, and storing the created reference signature.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the step of creating the reference signature and the step of storing the created reference signature are performed in a protected process.

15. An electronic device being enclosed by a cover, the cover comprising an enclosing assembly, the enclosing assembly comprising a first fastening element and a second fastening element, the first fastening element and second fastening element being adapted to fasten the cover into a closed position, the electronic device comprising a non-volatile memory, which memory comprises a stored reference signature associated to the enclosing assembly when the cover was fastened into a closed position, wherein the electronic device comprises an arrangement comprising:

a signature creating unit adapted to create a unique signature associated to the enclosing assembly each of multiple consecutive times the electronic device is powered-on and each of multiple consecutive times the electronic device is opened from the closed position based on any one of;

a unique signature of a detected pressure of the first fastening element and a unique signature of the mutual position of the second fastening element, wherein the unique signature is created each time the electronic device is powered on and a subsequent comparison between the created signature and a reference signature may be performed to detect if the cover enclosing the electronic device has been opened since the creating of the reference signature,

a signature comparing unit adapted to compare the created signature with the reference signature, and

a detection unit adapted to detect that the cover has been opened and an unauthorized access when the comparing the created unique signature to the reference signature results in a difference.

16. The electronic device according to the claim 15, wherein the signature creating unit further is adapted to create a reference signature associated to the first fastening element or to the second fastening elements of the enclosing assembly.

17. The electronic device according to claim 16, wherein the second fastening element is represented by a hole pattern element comprising a plurality of through holes arranged in a pattern, the hole pattern element being adapted to create an optical pattern when being illuminated.

18. The electronic device according to claim 16, wherein the second fastening element is represented by a pattern element comprising a pattern of transparently colored and/or polarized sections, the pattern element being adapted to create an optical pattern when being illuminated.

19. The electronic device according to claim 16, wherein the second fastening element is represented by an edge pattern element, the edge pattern elements comprises an edge pattern on the edge of the edge pattern element, the edge pattern being adapted to create an optical pattern when being illuminated.

20. The electronic device according to claim 15, wherein the signature creating unit comprises a pressure detector adapted to detect the pressure of the first fastening element when the first fastening element is fastened into a closed position.

21. The electronic device according to claim 15, wherein the signature creating unit comprises a light source adapted to illuminate the second fastening elements and wherein the signature creating unit further comprises a light detector being adapted to detect the created optical pattern being the result of illuminating the second fastening elements.

22. The electronic device according to claim 15, wherein the detection unit further comprises a timer arrangement adapted to delay the step of detecting of opening of the cover when the comparing resulted in a difference.

23. The electronic device according to claim 15, wherein the hole pattern element and/or the pattern element and/or the edge pattern element has a central through hole whose diameter being substantially larger than the diameter of the first fastening element and thereby enabling radial movement as well as rotating movement of the hole pattern element and/or the pattern element and/or the edge pattern element when fastening the cover.

24. The electronic device according to claim 15, wherein the electronic device is a radio base station.