Machine-to-machine device and smartcard for use in the device

• US 9,894,060 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2009
• Issued: 02/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vodafone Holding GmbH (Vodafone Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Vodafone Holding GmbH (Vodafone Group PLC)
• Inventors: Hoeksel, Sebastiaan, Koraichi, Najib, Muijen, Robert van
• Primary Examiner(s): Marshall, Christle I
• Application Number:
  US12/617,274
• Publication Number:
  US 20110132987A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,015 Days
• Field of Search: 3405391-53913
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31251 Redundant access, wireless and hardware access to fielddevices
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33192 Radio link, wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]

Abstract

There is provided a method device for facilitating remote access capability. An exemplary device comprises a connection module for connecting the device to a remote location. The exemplary device also comprises a smartcard comprising a secure identification and/or authentication component. The exemplary device additionally comprises a control module, at least part of which is comprised in the smartcard, interfacing with the connection module and with a component of the device, the control module being adapted to access the component in conjunction with a communication between the control module and the remote location via the connection module.

Claims

1. A device having remote access capability, comprising:

a connection module for connecting the device to a remote location;

a smartcard comprising a secure identification and/or authentication component; and

a control module, at least part of which is comprised in the smartcard, interfacing with the connection module and with a component of the device, the control module being adapted to access the component in conjunction with a communication between the control module and the remote location via the connection module, wherein the smartcard includes different interfaces for connecting to the component and to the connection module.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is connectable to the remote location via a communication network, which can be accessed via the connection module.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the smartcard and the component are connected via a USB interface or a SWP interface of the smartcard.

4. The device according to claim 1, comprising an interface controller connected between the smartcard and the component, the interface controller being adapted to communicate with the smartcard using a first connection type and to communicate with the component using a second connection type being different from the first connection type.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the first connection type includes a USB or a SWP connection.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the control module is modified based on data received via the connection module, if the data is cryptographically validated in the smartcard.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the data is encrypted via an encryption key and the validation of the data comprises decrypting the data using a decryption key corresponding to the encryption key, the decryption key being securely stored in the smartcard.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the control module is configured as a software application run on a microcontroller of the smartcard.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the smartcard is a Java Card and the software application is a Java Card Applet.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the component is configured as a sensor for measuring a quantity or as an actuator responsive to control signals received via the connection module.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the smartcard comprises a SIM or USIM application providing a secure identification and/or authentication service.

12. A smartcard for use in a remote access device having a connection module and a control module, the control module being adapted to access a component of the device in conjunction with a communication between the control module and a remote location via the connection module, the smartcard comprising a secure identification and/or authentication component, the smartcard comprising at least a part of the control module and the smartcard including different interfaces for connecting to the component and to the connection module.

13. A method for accessing a device from a remote location, comprising:

providing a connection module for connecting the device to the remote location;

providing a smartcard comprising a secure identification and/or authentication component;

connecting the smartcard to the connection module and to a component of the device; and

integrating a control module into the smartcard, the control module being adapted to access the component in conjunction with a communication between the control module and the remote location via the connection module, the smartcard including different interfaces for connecting to the component and to the connection module.