Constrained operation of a field device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12476799-B2
Application number	US-201917287694-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 7, 2019
Priority date	Oct 23, 2018
Publication date	Nov 18, 2025
Grant date	Nov 18, 2025

Abstract

Provided is a method for operating a field device. The field device is configured for interacting with a control device. According to the method, a base key is received from a key generation device. A current constraint parameter relating to a predefined operating constraint for operating the field device is determined. A key is generated based on the base key and the current constraint parameter. The field device interacts with the control device using the generated key.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A method for operating a field device, the field device being configured for interacting with a control device, the method comprising:
receiving by the field device from a key generation device, a base key, determining by the field device a current constraint parameter relating to a predefined operating constraint for operating the field device, generating by the field device a further key based on the base key and the current constraint parameter, wherein the further key is generated by dynamically modifying the base key with the current constraint parameter, interacting by the field device with the control device using the generated further key, wherein interacting includes communicating data between the field device and the control device using the generated further key, wherein the generated further key matches a key for the control device generated based on the predefined operating constraint, in response to a change to the field device related to the predefined operating constraint, updating, by the field device, the generated further key so that the updated generated further key does not match the key for the control device, and as a function of the updating, the field device no longer interacts with the control device, wherein the predefined operating constraint defines one or more constraints which must be fulfilled for operating the field device, wherein a predefined function is executed by the field device when the current constraint parameter fulfills the predefined operating constraint, and wherein the predefined function relates to a configuration and placing into operation of the field device issued by the control device.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the predefined operating constraint indicates a location at which the field device is allowed to execute the predefined function, wherein the current constraint parameter comprises a current location of the field device.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
receiving, from the key generation device, precision information indicating a geographical range with respect to the location within which the field device is allowed to execute the predefined function, and generating the further key based on the precision information.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the predefined operating constraint indicates a predefined timing at which the field device is allowed to execute the predefined function, wherein the current constraint parameter comprises a current time.

5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
receiving, from the key generation device, precision information indicating a time window with respect to the timing within which the field device is allowed to execute the predefined function, and generating the further key based on the precision information.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
reporting audit trail information to a distributed database, the audit trail information indicating interactions of the field device interacting with the control device using the generated key.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the distributed database comprises at least one of a decentralized distributed database and a database realized as a blockchain.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the generated key comprises at least one of a private key of an asymmetric encryption scheme and a secret shared key of a symmetric encryption scheme.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein interacting comprises at least one of communicating data between the field device and the control device, and authenticating the control device.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the predefined function is not executed by the field device when the current constraint parameter does not fulfill the predefined operating constraint.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the field device is at least one of a turbine, a transformer, an industrial control device, and an Internet of Things (IoT) device.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the current constraint parameter being provided as a signed message from a trusted external device.

13 . A method for operating a key generation device, the method comprising:
receiving a predefined operating constraint for operating a field device, generating a base key for the field device, transmitting the base key to the field device, and generating a key for a control device based on the predefined operating constraint, wherein the control device and the field device are configured to interact using the key and a further key generated at the field device based on the base key and a current constraint parameter relating to the predefined operating constraint, wherein the control device and the field device are configured to interact by communicating data using the generated further key, and wherein the further key is generated by dynamically modifying the base key with the current constraint parameter, and wherein the generated further key matches the key for the control device based on the predefined operating constraint, wherein, in response to a change to the field device related to the predefined operating constraint, the field device updates the generated further key so that the updated generated further key does not match the key for the control device, and as a function of the updating, the field device no longer interacts with the control device, wherein the predefined operating constraint defines one or more constraints which must be fulfilled for operating the field device, wherein a predefined function is executed by the field device when the current constraint parameter fulfills the predefined operating constraint, and wherein the predefined function relates to a configuration and placing into operation of the field device issued by the control device.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
transmitting the key to the control device.

15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
reporting audit trail information to a distributed database, the audit trail information indicating the transmission of the base key to the field device and the key to the control device.

16 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
receiving the predefined operating constraint from a distributed database.

17 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
receiving precision information, generating the base key and the key based on the precision information, and transmitting the precision information to the field device.

18 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the current constraint parameter being provided as a signed message from a trusted external device.

19 . A field device for interacting with a control device, the field device comprising a processor, a communication interface, and a logic configured to:
receive, from a key generation device, a base key, determine a current constraint parameter relating to a predefined operating constraint for operating the field device, generate a further key based on the base key and the current constraint parameter, wherein the further key is generated by dynamically modifying the base key with the current constraint parameter, interact with the control device using the generated further key, wherein data communicated when the field device interacts with the control device uses the generated further key, and wherein the generated further key matches a key for the control device generated based on the predefined operating constraint, and in response to a change to the field device related to the p

Assignees

• Siemens Ag

Inventors

• Sauer Markus
• Aigner Tobias
• Zupan Nejc

Classifications

• H04L9/085

  Secret sharing or secret splitting, e.g. threshold schemes · CPC title

• H04L9/0825

  using asymmetric-key encryption or public key infrastructure [PKI], e.g. key signature or public key certificates · CPC title

• G05B2219/25428

  Field device · CPC title

• G05B2219/25205

  Encrypt communication · CPC title

• G05B19/0428 Primary

  Safety, monitoring (G05B19/0423 takes precedence) · CPC title