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Authenticating environmental sensor systems based on security keys in communication systems

  • US 9,392,446 B1
  • Filed: 08/05/2013
  • Issued: 07/12/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2013
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method of operating an environmental sensor system comprising a sensor portion to perform a plurality of environmental sensor functions and a communication portion that stores a plurality of security keys, the method comprising:

  • in the sensor portion, monitoring at least one environmental condition to detect a trigger condition related to the environmental condition;

    in the communication portion, transferring an access request for delivery to a remote data system responsive to the detection of the trigger condition;

    in the communication portion, receiving a security challenge transferred by the remote data system, and in response, transferring a security answer for delivery to the remote data system that includes at least one hash result generated using at least one of the security keys;

    in the communication portion, receiving a security grant transferred by the remote data system indicating one of the hash results;

    in the communication portion, selecting at least one of the environmental sensor functions based on an association of the environmental sensor functions with one of the security keys used to generate the hash result indicated in the security grant;

    in the sensor portion, performing the selected environmental sensor function to obtain sensor data; and

    in the communication portion, transferring the sensor data for delivery to the remote data system.

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