Weighing apparatus with secured communication means
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A weighing apparatus subject to legal control comprising:
- a load cell configured to indicate tampering therewith; and
a processing unit external of the load cell outside an area of the weighing apparatus subject to the indication of tampering with the load cell;
wherein the weighting apparatus includes legally relevant software and non-legally relevant software, a portion of the legally relevant software is stored in the load cell, wherein the weighting apparatus is configured for secured two-way communication operative between the load cell and the processing unit;
characterized in that said portion of the legally relevant software in the load cell comprises a metrology audit log for recording changes made to the legally relevant software,wherein the metrology audit log is a database of recorded data relating to a modification of the legally relevant software, andwherein the weighing apparatus is configured such that any modification or replacement of the portion of the legally relevant software stored in the load cell prevents operation of the weighting apparatus, andwherein the load cell is configured to interface with the processing unit to provide for all of the following;
a. acceptance of data updates from the processing unit;
b. acceptance of calibration data,c. acceptance of capacity configuration data;
d. weight readings to be provided to the processing unit;
e. configuration data to be provided to the processing unit; and
f. audit log entries to be provided to the processing unit.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A weighing apparatus 1 comprising a load cell 4, a processing unit 3 external of the load cell 4 and data means 7, 8, 9, 10 for operating the weighing apparatus wherein a portion of the data means 7, 9, 10 is distributed between the processing unit 3 and the load cell 4 with secured communication means 6 operative between the load cell 4 and the processing unit 3. Preferably the data means 7, 9, 10 distributed between the processing unit 3 and the load cell 4 is subject to legal control or legally relevant software.
13 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A weighing apparatus subject to legal control comprising:
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a load cell configured to indicate tampering therewith; and a processing unit external of the load cell outside an area of the weighing apparatus subject to the indication of tampering with the load cell;
wherein the weighting apparatus includes legally relevant software and non-legally relevant software, a portion of the legally relevant software is stored in the load cell, wherein the weighting apparatus is configured for secured two-way communication operative between the load cell and the processing unit;characterized in that said portion of the legally relevant software in the load cell comprises a metrology audit log for recording changes made to the legally relevant software, wherein the metrology audit log is a database of recorded data relating to a modification of the legally relevant software, and wherein the weighing apparatus is configured such that any modification or replacement of the portion of the legally relevant software stored in the load cell prevents operation of the weighting apparatus, and wherein the load cell is configured to interface with the processing unit to provide for all of the following; a. acceptance of data updates from the processing unit; b. acceptance of calibration data, c. acceptance of capacity configuration data; d. weight readings to be provided to the processing unit; e. configuration data to be provided to the processing unit; and f. audit log entries to be provided to the processing unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A weighing apparatus comprising:
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a load cell configured to indicate tampering therewith and including a memory; and a processing unit external of the load cell outside an area of the weighing apparatus subject to the indication of tampering with the load cell;
wherein the weighting apparatus includes legally relevant software and non-legally relevant software, a portion of the legally relevant software is stored in the memory of the load cell and processed in the load cell, wherein the weighting apparatus is configured for secured two-way communication operative between the load cell and the processing unit;
characterized in that said portion of the legally relevant software in the load cell comprises a metrology audit log for recording changes made to the legally relevant software,wherein the weighing apparatus is configured such that any modification or replacement of the portion of the legally relevant software stored in the load cell prevents operation of the weighting apparatus; and wherein the load cell is configured to interface with the processing unit to provide for all of the following; a. acceptance of data updates from the processing unit; b. acceptance of calibration data, c. acceptance of capacity configuration data; d. weight readings to be provided to the processing unit; e. configuration data to be provided to the processing unit; and f. audit log entries to be provided to the processing unit. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A weighing apparatus subject to legal control comprising:
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a) a load cell; and b) a processing unit external of the load cell and separate from the load cell, wherein a first portion of legally relevant software is stored in the load cell, wherein the weighing apparatus is configured such that secured two-way communication is operative between the load cell and the processing unit, said first portion of the legally relevant software in the load cell comprises a metrology audit log for recording changes made to the legally relevant software, the load cell is configured to provide evidence of tampering with and/or accessing of the first portion of legally relevant software stored therein, and the weighting apparatus is configured to prevent communication of a second portion of legally relevant software distributed in the processing unit with the first portion of the legally relevant software in the event of tampering with the first portion of legally relevant software, and wherein the load cell is configured to interface with the processing unit to provide for all of the following; a. acceptance of data updates from the processing unit; b. acceptance of calibration data, c. acceptance of capacity configuration data; d. weight readings to be provided to the processing unit; e. configuration data to be provided to the processing unit; and f. audit log entries to be provided to the processing unit. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification